Extension table with spring supported center leaf



Dec. 30, 1952 STARKE 2,623,799

EXTENSION TABLE WITH SPRING SUPPORTED CENTER LEAF Filed March 7, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR lValban Jfarke M lasy,

ATTORNEY N. STARKE' Dec. 30, 1952 EXTENSION TABLE WITH SPRING SUPPORTED CENTER LEAF 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 7, 1950 'l vii/ll!!! \N N MN MW um AQHIYIIIEIIJI aw E w 3 RN &Q q M WM M mh mm N\ m R Patentecl Dec. 30, 1952 EXTENSION TABLE WITH SPRING SUPPORTED CENTER LEAF Nathan Starks, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Morris Sayre, South Euclid, and one-third to Albert Monte, East Cleveland, Ohio Application March 7, 1950, Serial No. 148,203 2 Claims. (01. 311-46) 1 This invention relates to extension tables of the type having a depressible spring supported center leaf that is pressed by its supporting spring against the under side of the separable end sections and that automatically moves into the plane of the end sections upon separation of the end sections, the invention being particularly applicable to tables of the kitchen furniture type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table .of the character described that has a marrable top surface, such as a plastic covering, on the end sections and center leaf and that is so constructed that the leaf may have Sliding engagement with the-under side of the end sections without marring, scraping or otherwise damaging the marrable top surface of the leaf.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which:

Figure l is a top plan View of a table embodying the invention showing the same extended;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the table;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line indicated at 44 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section similar to Fig. 4 showing the top sections together and the center leaf beneath the top sections.

As illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, the table of the present invention has a top comprising separable sections I and 2 and a center leaf 3 which is movable from a position below the top sections I and 2 to a position between the same. The table top is supported on a frame which has laterally spaced longitudinal guide bars 4 and 5 that are connected adjacent their ends by crossbars 6 and I and intermediate their ends by a crossbar 8, the crossbars 6, I and 8 being secured to the bottom edges of the guide bars 4 and 5. Each of the guide bars 4 and 5 supports an inner slide bar 9 and an outer slide bar It. The slide bars 9 and I9 are in face to face contact with the guide bars 4 and 5 and each is connected to its guide bar by dovetail keys II attached to the bars and sliding in keyways formed in the meeting faces of the bars. The slide bars .9 and I have end portions I2 which project above the top edges of the guide bars which are attached to the bottom faces of the top sections I and 2 by means of screws i3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the top section I is attached to the inner slide bars 9 and the top section 2 is attached to the outer slide bars I0. In order to cause the top sections I and 2 to move together or apart in unison, rack bars l4 and I5 are attached to the top faces of the bars 9 and Ill that slide on the guide bar 4 and a pinion l6 mounted on the bar 4 meshes with both racks so that the bars 9 and I0 are constrained to move in opposite directions and the top sections I and 2 move together or apart in unison.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the center leaf 3 has guide posts I! secured thereto. The posts I'I extend vertically downward from the bottom face of the leaf 3 and are received in bores I8 that provide vertical guideways in the guide bars 4 and 5 for the posts I1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the posts H are offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of the leaf 3. This offsetting of the spaced guides reduces the tilting of the leaf during its vertical movements.

The leaf 3 has a suitable spring support that maintains an upward pressure thereon sufficient to lift the leaf into the space between the top sections I and 2. As herein shown a convex metal bearing member I 9 is secured to the under side of the leaf 3 centrally thereof and provides a bearing projection on the under side of the leaf midway between the guide bars 5 in which the leaf is guided by means of the posts I1. The leaf 3 is supported by a leaf spring 2|] which has a free end portion engaging the convex bearing projection I9 and pressing the laf 3 upwardly against the under sides of the top sections I and 2 when the top sections are together as shown in Fig. 5, the spring 20 acting to automatically lift the leaf into the space between the top sections when the top sections are moved apart. The spring 20 is disposed centrally between the guide bars 4 and 5 and extends parallel to the guide bars, the spring 20 having a lower attaching arm 2| which is secured to a block 22 attached to the crossbar B by means of a bolt 23 and to the intermediate crossbar 8 by means of a screw 23. The belt 23 and screw 24 securely hold the spring and position the same on the supportin frame.

The dovetail keys II are so arranged that the I opening movement of the sections I and 2 is limited, thesectionsl and 2 being movable to a position where their meeting edges are clear of the center leaf 3 so that the spring 29 can lift the leaf 3 to a position between the sections I and 2, after which the sections I and 2 can be moved into engagement with the leaf 3 as shown in Fig. 4. When the top sections are together as shown in Fig. 5, the spring 20 presses the leaf 3 against the under sides of the sections I ana 2 and the frictional engagement of the leaf 3 with the sections I and 2 serves to hold the sections I and 2 against accidental separation. When it is desired to extend the table the sections I and 2 can be pulled apart and the leaf will snap into place between the sections. When it is desired to bring the top sections I and 2 together, the sections I and 2 can be moved apart sufficiently to free the leaf 3, which can then be pressed down by hand against the spring 20 far enough to permit the sections l and 2 to be moved together.

The table top is preferably plastic covered, a plastic covering being provided on the top sections l and 2 and held in place by means of a metal trim strip 26 that covers the side and end edges of the top sections and that has a top retaining flange 2! that projects over the margin of the top face of the table section and over the margin of the covering 25 to secure the same to the top section. The trim strip 25 is preferably also provided with a bottom flange 28 that overlies the margin of the under face of the top section.

The center leaf 3 is provided with a plastic covering 29 that is held in place by means of a trim strip 39 that covers the side and end edges of the leaf and that has a retaining flange 3| extending inwardly over the marginal portion of the top face of the leaf and over the margin of the plastic cover. The strip so may also have a bottom flange 32 engaging the under side of the leaf, if desired.

When the center leaf 3 is positioned beneath the top sections 1 and 2 the retaining flange 3! of the trim strip 33 bears against the flanges 28 of the trim strips 25, spacing the marrable plastic covering 28 of the leaf 3 from the bottom faces of the top sections 1! and 2 and thereby preventing marring of the marrable top surface of the leaf. When the trim strip 23 is provided with a bottom flange 23, as shown, the construction is particularly advantageous in providing metal to metal sliding contact between the leaf and end sections. The top sections I and 2 and center leaf 3 may be provided with the usual dowel pins 33 and dowel sockets 34 to hold the sections in accurate alinement when engaged with one another or with the center leaf.

In order to properly position the center leaf 3 in horizontal alinement with the top sections when the center leaf is lifted into the space between the top sections, suitable stop members in the form of transverse cleats 35 are attached to the under faces of the leaf 3 and project beyond the edges thereof for engagement with the under sides of the top sections I and 2. When the cleats 35 engage the end sections I and 2 the leaf 3 is in horizontal alinement with the end sections so that the dowels and dowel sockets of the leaf and top sections will propertly engage when the top sections l and 2 are moved together against the leaf 3.

The table top and extension frame are supported on suitable table legs which are preferably in the form of tubular metal legs secured together to provide a supporting pedestal. As herein shown, four tubular legs 31 are provided which are curved from their upper to their lower ends and which are secured intermediate their upper and lower ends to a positioning ring 38. The curved legs 3'! extend radially outwardly. with respect to the positioning ring 38, above and below the ring, and the radially extending upper ends of the legs have flattened portions 29 that are provided with longitudinal slots 40. The flattened ends 39 of the legs engage the under sides of the projecting portions of the end crossbars 8 and l and the pedestal is adjustably secured to the crossbars 6 and T by means of bolts 4| extending through the bars 6 and 1 and through the slots 60.

t is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made Within the 4 terms of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An extension table comprising a supporting frame, a top supported on said frame and consisting of two separable sections connected to move in unison together or apart and a center leaf having a marrable top surface and mounted to move from a position below said sections into the space between said sections, said top sections and said center leaf each having metal trim strips covering the side and end edges thereof and having top and bottom flanges overlying the margins of their top and bottom faces, the top flange of the leaf trim strip having a flat top face providing a bearing surface spaced above the marrable surface of the leaf for sliding engagement with the bottom flanges of the trim strips of the top sections to prevent marring the marrable top surface of the leaf, stops for limiting the upward movement of said leaf and aligning the same with said separable sections, and a support for said leaf comprising a spring mounted on the frame and exerting an upward thrust on said leaf to press the same against the under sides of said separable sections and to automatically move the leaf into the space between the separable sections when the latter are moved apart.

2. An extension table comprising a supporting frame, a top supported on said frame and consistin of two separable sections connected to move in unison together or apart and a center leaf having a marrable top surface and mounted to move from a position below said separable sections into the space therebetween when they are moved apart, said separable sections having a metal trim strip covering the side and end edges thereof and havinga flange overlying the margin of its top face, the flange of the leaf trim strip having a top face providing a bearing surface spaced above the marrable top surface of the leaf for sliding engagement with the bottoms of the separable sections to prevent marring the marrable top surface of the leaf, stops for limiting the upward movement of said leaf and aligning the same with said separable sections, and a support for said leaf comprising a spring mounted on the frame and exerting an upward thrust on said leaf to press the same against the under sides of said separable sections and to automatically move the leaf into the space between the separable sections when the latter are moved apart.

NATHAN STARKE.

REFERENCES CFTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 88,132 Chelini Mar. 23, 1869 136,243 Herzog Feb. 25, 1873 200,849 Thurston Mar. 5, 1878 957,611 Kral May 10, 1910 1,143,853 Olson June 22, 1915 1,265,067 Dunn May 7, 1918 1,793,819 Muhlichen Feb. 24, 1931 1,805,213 Greenwood May 12, 1931 1,935,531 Walter Nov. 14, 1933 1,951,499 Brown Mar. 20, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 1 Country Date 464,125 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1937 

